Blood clotting a significant cause of death in patients with COVID-19

A study led by clinician scientists at RCSI University of Medicine
and Health Sciences has found that Irish patients admitted to hospital
with severe COVID-19 infection are experiencing abnormal blood clotting
that contributes to death in some patients.

The study, carried out by the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, RCSI and St James’s Hospital, Dublin, is published in current edition of the British Journal of Haematology. (DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16749)

The authors found that abnormal blood clotting occurs in Irish
patients with severe COVID-19 infection, causing micro-clots within the
lungs. They also found that Irish patients with higher levels of blood
clotting activity had a significantly worse prognosis and were more
likely to require ICU admission.

“Our novel findings demonstrate that COVID-19 is associated with a
unique type of blood clotting disorder that is primarily focussed within
the lungs and which undoubtedly contributes to the high levels of
mortality being seen in patients with COVID-19,” said Professor James
O’Donnell, Director of the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, RCSI and
Consultant Haematologist in the National Coagulation Centre in St
James’s Hospital, Dublin.

“In addition to pneumonia affecting the small air sacs within the
lungs, we are also finding hundreds of small blood clots throughout the
lungs. This scenario is not seen with other types of lung infection, and
explains why blood oxygen levels fall dramatically in severe COVID-19
infection.

“Understanding how these micro-clots are being formed within the lung is critical so that we can develop more effective treatments for our patients, particularly those in high risk groups.

“Further studies will be required to investigate whether different
blood thinning treatments may have a role in selected high risk patients
in order to reduce the risk of clot formation,” Professor O’Donnell
said.

Emerging evidence also shows that the abnormal blood-clotting problem
in COVID-19 results in a significantly increased risk of heart attacks
and strokes.

Professor O’Donnell led the cross disciplinary study, with joint
first authors Dr Helen Fogarty and Dr Liam Townsend, along with
Consultants from multiple specialities within St James’s Hospital and
researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and
Trinity College Dublin.

Further research on these findings will continue under Irish COVID-19 Vasculopathy Study (iCVS) which has been jointly funded by the Health Research Board and Irish Research Council as part of the Irish government’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Funding.

Ranked number one globally for Good Health and Well-being in the
Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2020, RCSI
University of Medicine and Health Sciences is an international
not-for-profit university, with its headquarters in Dublin.

RCSI is exclusively focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. It is among the top 250 universities worldwide in the THE World University Rankings (2020) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. RCSI has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.